What are Smart 1 Listings?

Smart 1 Listings is one of the leading online presence management platform. Smart 1 Listings enables shops, restaurants, doctors, gas stations, museums, hospitals and every other local business or public institution to automatically optimize their online presence for local searches. Using Smart 1 Listings, you ensure that your business will be found as quickly and most frequently as possible when users search for directions, opening hours, reviews, recommendations or events.

How does Smart 1 Listings work?

The Smart 1 Listings online presence management platform builds on the Location Control Center. In the Smart 1 Listings Location Control Center all of your location data is stored and managed in the cloud.  Since all of our products are cloud-based, the data is always up-to-date and accessible anywhere, anytime. That’s how simple Online Presence Management is today.

Is my company’s, my client’s and all location data securely and confidentially stored?

All non-public and company-related data concerning your company and all of your business locations and branches are hosted exclusively on data centers of our partner 1&1 Internet, which are subject to the strict data security requirements and maximum privacy compliance.

What benefits do I get from using Smart 1 Listings?

Smart 1 Listings offers diverse benefits. In essence, Smart 1 Listings is all about supporting you in gaining more satisfied customers. This starts with acquiring new customers through local search and ends with the comprehensive structuring and optimization of your online customer dialogue.

Which partners does Smart 1 Listings collaborate with?

Smart 1 Listings collaborates with the major, most high-reach online directories, rating and review sites, navigation systems, apps and social networks.  We place the client companies in as many relevant directories as possible to achieve maximum visibility.

Which information will I be able to include in the listings?

Address, opening hours, URL, e-mail, telephone-, fax and mobile number, keywords, company descriptions (short and long text), videos, social media profiles, logo, photos, landscape photo, payment methods, brands, services, languages, special events, offers and deals.

What is the duration of a listing contract?

The contract term is generally 12 months. The term is automatically renewed for further 12 months if the contract is not terminated with prior, timely notice.   You can cancel in full after 90 days if you are not completely satisfied.

Why is a local reference important for my business?

Over 30% of all searches are carried out within a local context. To help your business be found by customers in your area, you should be listed with correct details on as many local directories as possible.  Most small businesses have a clear local or regional focus and, therefore, aim to appeal to people from the immediate surroundings. In addition to an excellent website, Local Listing is an effective means of presenting your business with always up-to-date and consistent information on the relevant portals and, thus, optimizing your business’ online presence.

Does local listing replace search engine optimization (SEO)?

Local Listing aims at maximizing the online visibility of your business. By listing your business with correct and consistent details on as many channels as possible, your business becomes more relevant for search engines like Google and will be found more easily. SEO involves many other measures, such as optimizing your website. But Local Listing perfectly complements traditional SEO and can be considered the first important step to maximizing your business’ online visibility. And it is much less expensive.

How do local listings improve my ranking on search engines like Google?

The higher the number of consistent listings a search engine identifies of your business, the more likely it is the information is evaluated as accurate, up-to-date and important. Accordingly, the search engine concludes that your business is relevant to search queries in your area. In addition, you are listed in the Google-owned directories “Google My Business” and “Google Maps”. This also has a positive effect on your search ranking.

I do not (yet) have a website. What is the benefit of Local Listings?

Yes, in any case. You should still be present where your customers are looking for you because directory entries work independently of a website. Enter the address, photos, and special offers of your business or your local branch and get listed in all major online directories at the push of a button! Thus, Local Listing helps you to significantly increase the visibility of your business, especially if you do not have a website.  Check out and find more information on an easy way to build a new site at: www.smart1sites.com

How do I create the location listing?

You can create your business listing within a very short period of time. After signing up for the Smart 1 Listings service, you only need to make one entry and your location data will be distributed to the appropriate online directories.  If any location details ever change or you decide to provide additional services, you are able to contact us and we can get it changed with 72 hours. All data is automatically updated in each of the directories which saves a lot of time and effort. Thanks to the enormous reach that you achieve using Local Listing, people searching online become aware of your business more easily and your business will appeal to more potential customers.

Smart 1 Listings and Social Media

Does Smart 1 Listings create a new Facebook page?

If no Facebook page exists for the business, Smart 1 Listings will automatically create a so-called ‘unofficial’ page. This is a company profile that shows details such as name, address, phone number, website, description, opening hours, category, and profile photo.
If desired, an ‘unofficial’ page can be connected to Smart 1 Listings, claimed, and converted into an official company profile.  If a Facebook page already exists, it will be detected and can be connected to Smart 1 Listings.

How does local listing affect a Facebook page?

None, Facebook can be used as usual. Simply the company data and logo will be updated and customer reviews and comments collected. These will be made available via the “customer feedback” option.

What is Google My Business?

In 2014, Google merged several services under the new offer of Google My Business. By using Google My Business, small and medium businesses are able to significantly improve their visibility in local Google searches with little effort.  In an individual account all of your company’s contact details are entered, which then also appear on Google Maps and Google Search.

By integrating your company in the map service Google Maps, potential customers have the opportunity to find your business, learn of the opening hours and directly calculate a route. Many local Google searches are performed via the smartphone. If your phone number is listed on Google My Business, the potential customer can contact you immediately with a single click. Your company can also be found by and communicate with potential and existing customers through the Google+ link.

What is the difference between Google+ and Google My Business?

Each business listed on Google My Business also gets listed on Google+ (about the equivalent to a fan page on Facebook).

Does Smart 1 Listings create a new Google My Business page?

If no Google My Business profile exists, one will automatically be created. Then, it is up to you to initiate the verification process. Even if a profile exists but has not been verified by you or your client, the location needs to be verified. In both cases, either a postcard with the verification code will be sent to the registered business address, or a phone call given to the business phone with automatic transmission of the verification PIN. The verification code needs to be entered into the Google My Business account in order to complete the verification process.

There is an existing Google My Business page for my business. How is this possible?

There are two possibilities: either a page has already been created by an employee or an agency, or Google took over the business data from a directory (e.g. telephone directory, yellow pages). In the first case, we recommend finding out who created the listing in order to claim it. In the second case, Smart 1 Listings will claim the listing and update it.

What is Bing Places?

This service of Bing is largely comparable to Google My Business. After inputting all data and contact details at Bing Places, the information will appear in the Bing search results. The information displayed corresponds to the equivalent of what is shown on Google. Apart from your address – which is of course shown in Bing Maps – you may also specify your business hours. We always advise to save a phone number so that your customers are able to reach you. In addition, the URL of your company’s website is very useful, as well as links to the business profiles on Facebook, Twitter or Google+. To further increase the attractiveness of your Bing Places account, it is possible to integrate photos of your business or the products or services you offer. With outside shots of your business your customers may find the location more easily, and an appealing photo of a product increases the desire to buy!

Which content is published on Instagram?

If you sign up for our service, all photos that are marked with your business’ geotag will be collected. Hence, you will gain a quick overview of all images that were published about your company.

What is Foursquare?

Foursquare is a social location-based platform.  If your (potential) customer is, for example, in a restaurant, he or she can check in on the Foursquare app. Like this, he/she can let friends know of his/her location, write a review of the location and simultaneously share everything via Facebook or Twitter.

What is recommended to do about negative comments on social media platforms?

Whether your clients like it or not, their customers are talking about the company or the brand and share their experiences publicly. The reasons for negative feedback may be very different and it is difficult to give an answer that is generally applicable. In any case, ignoring negative comments and reviews is the least preferred alternative. Instead, it is important to actively take part in the conversation that is happening around one’s brand, receive the messages and establish a dialogue with the customer or complainant. This way, it is possible to turn around negative feedback and leave a positive impression.

Smart 1 Listings Video

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